Airports: South-East England

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to reduce delays in decisions on airport expansion in the south-east of England.

Earl Attlee: The terms of reference for the Airports Commission, which includes the timetable it will follow and the broad scope of the interim and final reports, were set out in the Secretary of State for Transport's Written Ministerial Statement of 2 November. The terms of reference were drafted so as to allow the commission sufficient time to establish a robust evidence base and give appropriate consideration to all of the relevant options ahead of making its recommendations. Accelerating the commission's timescale would increase the risk of its recommendations being overturned and could therefore delay decisions on a long-term policy on airport capacity.

Government Departments: Training

Lord Norton of Louth: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Ministers presently in the Cabinet Office and the office of the Lord President of the Council have received training from the National School of Government or Civil Service Learning in constitutional principles and practice.

Baroness Northover: None.

Government Departments: Training

Lord Norton of Louth: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many members of the Senior Civil Service presently in the Cabinet Office and the office of the Lord President of the Council have received training from the National School of Government or Civil Service Learning in the constitutional position of Parliament and the parliamentary process.

Baroness Northover: The National School of Government closed on 31 March 2012 and records on past attendance are not held centrally. Civil Service Learning runs a module on parliamentary processes.

Government: Cabinet Ministers

Lord Jopling: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 23 October (WA 51), why the answer given did not address the seniority of the Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons relative to other Ministers; and whether they will now answer that question.

Baroness Northover: There has been no change to the seniority of the Government Chief Whip.

Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Bill 2012

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they were consulted by the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland in his reference to the Supreme Court on the Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Bill 2012 passed by the National Assembly for Wales.

Lord Wallace of Tankerness: The Attorney-General for Northern Ireland did not make a reference to the Supreme Court on the Local Government Byelaws (Wales) Bill 2012 and has no power to make such a reference. The reference was made by the Attorney-General for England and Wales under Section 112 of the Government of Wales Act 2006. The reference was served on the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland in accordance with the relevant Supreme Court practice direction and the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland elected to participate in the proceedings before the Supreme Court.

Railways: Third Class Travel

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether invitations to bid for new rail franchises permit the introduction of a third passenger class.

Earl Attlee: The current franchising system allows bidders to propose the introduction of a third passenger class as long as these proposals comply with the ticketing and settlement agreement and franchise agreement.

Roads: Bus Lanes

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether local authorities are required to give advance warning of enforcement cameras installed in bus lanes.

Earl Attlee: Local authorities are required to provide adequate traffic signing and road markings so that road users are aware of enforceable bus lane restrictions. There is no mandatory requirement to give advanced warning of enforcement cameras installed in bus lanes.

Transport: Roadworthiness Regulations

Lord Willoughby de Broke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposals by the European Commission to harmonise European Union roadworthiness regulations; and what effect these proposals will have on the ownership of classic and vintage cars in the United Kingdom.

Earl Attlee: An initial assessment has been made on the proposal which suggests potential significant costs to the UK. At the recent Transport Council the Government intervened and expressed serious concerns about the proposal, which will remove the requirement to have an annual roadworthiness test for vehicles over 30 years old and of historic interest, while limiting allowable modifications. The Government will continue to challenge those provisions that imply unmerited costs.